Garment-supporter.



PATBNTBD SEPT. 10, 1907 K. GONRY.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

APPLIGATION FILED No.17, 1906.

WITNESSES I ATTORNEYS NORRIS PETERS WASNINWON D C n'NrTnn STATES KATE OONRY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed December 17, 1906. Serial No- 348,200-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATE OoNnY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Garment-Supporter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to garment supporters, and is designed to provide means adapted to be attached to the front and side of a corset, to support hosiery without injury to the fabric thereof, to brace the ankle of the wearer, and to exert a downward pull on the corset without discomfort to the wearer.

Other objects relating to the specific construction and special arrangement of the several parts of my invention will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views, and in which Figure l is a perspective of a device embodying my invention applied to the ankle and leg, indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper end of a strap used. in carrying out my invention; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse central section of a device embodying a modification of one of the elements of my invention.

As illustrated in the drawings, a band 1 adapted to pass under the heel and extend across the ankle of a user is provided with a rearward extension 2 adapted to bear against the back of the heel. The band is provided with a central aperture 3 adapted to receive the heel 4 of a user and permit the heel to project through the aperture in the heel band, as illustrated in Fig. 1. ll strap 5 preferably made elastic is attached at its ends to the front of the heel band, and thereby adapted to exert a tension on the rearward extension 2 of the heel band and draw said extension snugly against the back of the heel, at the same time holding the forward portion of the heel band firmly yet snugly on the ankle. Supporting straps 6 are secured at their lower ends to the heel band, and are provided at their upper ends with clasps 7 adapted to be attached to an elastic band connected with a corset waist, a waist band or corset. The straps 6 are connected with the heel band in line with the ankle so that when an upward pull is exerted on said straps the heel band will be drawn firmly against the ankle. A garter 8 is preferably attached to the supporting straps 6, and is provided with a clasp 9 of ordinary construction. The clasps 7 are preferably arranged below the ends of the straps 6 so as to provide a cloth backing for the clasps adapted to prevent chafing or discomfort to the user. The clasps secured to the upper end of the supporting straps 6 are preferably provided with a base plate 10, having in its upper end an aperture 11 adapted to be connected with a button or fastener of any suitable construction attached to a corset waist, .corset or waist band. of the base plate 10 is provided with slots 12 and an intervening strip 13 adapted to be attached to a loop 14 which is stitched on to the supporting straps 6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A spring-actuated clip 15 is hinged to a pivot pin 16, and provided with off-set teeth 17 adapted to grip thefabric 18 of a stocking and hold it securely in position.

In the construction hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the clip 15 is fixedly secured to the strap 6. I prefer in most cases, however, to provide means whereby the length of the straps 6 may be varied, and for such purpose a clasp may be used having a back plate 19 provided with a cross bar 20 formed by means of a slot 21, and adapted to be retained by the looped end 22 of a strap 6, the extremity 23 of said strap being formed into an end loop adapted to receive and hold a bar 24 formed on a sliding clasp 25, whereby the plate 19 may be raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the length of the loop 22 of the strap 6. The upper end of the base plate 19 of the clasp is provided with a head having an aperture 11 similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for the purpose hereinbefore described. The clasp is also provided with a grip 26 having retaining lips 17, as shown in Fig. 3.

By means of the construction herein shown and described, the ankle is firmly yet gently braced so as to enable low shoes to be worn with comfort and safety, the heel band being held firmly against the ankles by means of the instep straps 5, which exert a lateral pull on the heel band, and the supporting straps which exert a vertical pull on the heel band when attached to the waist band, corset or corset waist, and the heel band at the same time holds the corset waist or corset firmly in place.

The fact that the supporting bands 6 are arranged in ,a direct line with that portion of the heel band which extends under the heel, contributes materially to the efiiciency of my invention. By means of such con struction the pull on the supporting bands is direct, and said bands do not rub or chafe as they would-do were they attached in twisted relation to the user. The fact that the heel band is arranged to pass under the heel of the user instead of under the instep is also an impor tant factor in carrying out my invention, inasmuch as the band is thereby held from under the instep, leaving the instep free from the rubbing and chafing that would result if the band extended under the instep instead of under the heel.

The lower portion Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment supporter, the combination of a pair of oppositely arranged supporting straps, a heel band con- 5 necting the lower portions of said straps and provided with a rear extension, and a front elastic transverse band opposite to said rear extension, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a garment supporter, the combination of a pair 10 of oppositely arranged supporting straps, a heel band con- 

